William 'Bill' Goss

Passed away Sunday April 26 in Camarillo, Calif. at age 90, 15 years to the day after his beloved wife, Fern.

Bill was born May 22, 1918 in Monson, Massachusetts, and moved with his parents to Los Angeles in 1920. In 1935 he graduated from Manual Arts High School where he was an officer in the ROTC. After a three year stint with Ventura Tool, Bill joined the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1941. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1949, to battalion chief in 1953 and to deputy chief in 1956. Early in his career Bill was editor of the LAFD monthly magazine, The Grapevine, and then president of the Firemen's Relief Association. Following retirement from the LAFD in 1970, Bill joined the National Fire Sprinkler Association as a fire protection engineer. He also served as an advisor to the International Conference of Building Officials and held various posts at the state, national and international levels. Bill played a key role in the development of the California Uniform Fire code since its inception.

Bill married Fern McCracken on May 4, 1941 and the couple raised sons Richard and Kenneth and daughter Kathleen in the home they built in Westchester in 1948. Throughout his lifetime Bill received numerous awards and commendations for his service and contributions to the City of Los Angeles and the State of California. In 1970 he was named LA City Fireman of the Year and in 1988 received the Golden Sprinkler Award for career achievement from the NSFA. Just before his death he learned of his election to the NSFA Hall of Fame. Bill was a tireless community volunteer with the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, the Westchester Mental Health Guild and the local Chamber of Commerce. While scoutmaster of Troop 927 he also served on several committees and conducted leadership training for boys and adult scout leaders. In appreciation the Boy Scouts of America awarded him the Silver Beaver, its highest volunteer honor. He helped found the Westchester-Playa Del Rey chapter of the American Red Cross and worked Red Cross bloodmobiles for many years. Bill was an active member of the LAFD Sertoma service club and was named Sertoman of the Year in 1998.

A founding parishioner at St. Jerome Catholic Church in 1949, Bill was honored as Parish Volunteer of the Year in 1995 in recognition of his service to the church. Bill always had a kind word and a smile for friends and strangers alike and the outpouring of prayers and good wishes from his many friends, colleagues and fire department family comforted and soothed him in his final days.

Bill is survived by his sister Helen, his sons and their wives, five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

A memorial service is scheduled Saturday, May 9 at 3 pm at the LAFD Museum and Memorial, 1355 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association [Widows and Orphans Fund or the Bill Goss Scholarship Fund], 815 Colorado Blvd., 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90041; or to the LAFD Museum and Memorial.